The suspect arrested after the death of British MP David Amess, stabbed during a parliamentary call, has been charged with murder and preparation for terrorist acts, police and prosecutors said on Thursday.
Ali Harbi Ali, a 25-year-old Briton of Somali origin, is due to be presented to a judge in London on Thursday.
"
We will submit to the court the fact that this murder has a terrorist connection, more precisely motivations both religious and ideological,
" said Nick Price, head of the anti-terrorism division of the prosecution, in a statement.
Read also Murder of MP Amess: London is worried about "terrorists in the chamber"
The police had already mentioned "
a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism
".
David Amess, a 69-year-old Tory MP and father of five, was stabbed to death on Friday as he spoke to his constituents at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, about 37 miles to the east of London.
The suspect, who according to British media had followed an anti-radicalization program, was arrested on the spot.
This drama shocked the country, recalling the trauma of the assassination of Labor MP Jo Cox in June 2016 by a right-wing extremist and prompting calls to strengthen the security of elected officials.
